William Costley

William Costley is an Associate Professor of Spanish and Chair of the Spanish Program at Centre College, where he has been a faculty member since 2013. He holds a BA in Spanish and English from Centre College, an MA in Spanish from Bowling Green State University, and a PhD in Spanish from the University of Arizona. His academic work bridges literature, cultural studies, and digital media.

Education:

• BA in Spanish and English, Centre College
• MA in Spanish, Bowling Green State University
• PhD in Spanish, University of Arizona

His research focuses on U.S. Latina/o literature and the cultural dynamics of border regions, particularly in relation to nativism and anti-immigrant rhetoric. He explores how vigilante organizations use the internet and social media to influence public discourse and media representations of immigrants. His interdisciplinary approach integrates digital humanities, visual culture, and new media studies to analyze the evolution of online hate movements and their impact on mainstream narratives.

Dr. Costley has been recognized for his teaching excellence, receiving the Kirk Award for Teaching in 2024 and being named a Centre Scholar in 2021. These awards reflect his commitment to pedagogy and scholarly engagement.

He advises students in Spanish and Latin American Studies and contributes to curriculum development as program chair. While no specific grants are mentioned, his research trajectory suggests involvement in digital scholarship initiatives. He is active in advancing interdisciplinary dialogue around immigration, media, and cultural identity.

His work increasingly examines the migration of anti-immigrant activism from dedicated websites to major social media platforms and the resurgence of vigilante groups along the Texas-Mexico border, highlighting the evolving nature of digital extremism.